GSA Exports: 4 Players On Youth National Teams, Salcedo Goes 90, Velazco Ready To Make History

Another week another look at our GSA Exports where we track the performances of our former and current players in MLS, PDL, Reserve League and National Team duty.

Three Grande Sports Academy players, Bofo Saucedo, Brooks Lennon and Justen Glad will be unavailable this weekend vs Arsenal FC, last game of the season, as they are currently in Azerbaijan participating in the Caspian Cup.

Ricardo Velazco has had a stellar start to his PDL career and will be looking to raise the ceiling even more when he and FC Tucson take on Houston Dynamo on Wednesday in the third round of the U.S Open Cup. He and his teammate are hoping to upset the Dynamo which would be only the 5th time a PDL team has defeated a MLS side.

Stats are for all competitions unless otherwise noted (National Team, US Open Cup, MLS)

MLS

Carlos Salcedo, D, Real Salt Lake – Started, played 90 minutes in RSL’s 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire. Salcedo earned praise for another strong performance and in all 3 of his starts he has gone the full 90.Season: 4 games, 3 starts

National Team

Benji Lopez, F, U18 MNT – U18’s were in Portugal for 10 days participating in the 2013 Lisbon International Tournament. U18’s defeated Czech Republic, 3-0, tied Portugal, 1-1, and lost to Hungary, 1-2. Lopez played 30 minutes in the Czech, came on late in the Portugal game and unfortunately there is no information from U.S. Soccer about the third game.This cycle ONLY – 2 games, 0 starts

Danny Gavin, F, North Sound SeaWolves FC – Has not joined team yet. Gavin says he will be joining the team around June 3rd.

Cole Nagy, M, OC Blues Strikers FC – Was not in the 18 in OC Blue Strikers FC 1-1 draw with FC Tucson. Nagy says he will be with the team next week when they take on FC Tucson in Tucson.Season: 2 games, 2 starts

Ricardo Velazco, M, FC Tucson – Named to the PDL “Team of the Week” for his performances last week. This past weekend, he came on the bench in the 2-1 loss to Ventura County on Saturday. The next day he started, played 39 minutes in FC Tucson’s 1-1 draw with OC Blue Strikers FC. On Wednesday he and FC Tucson will be taking on MLS side Houston Dynamo in the 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup. Only 4 PDL teams are left and last year 1 PDL team defeated a MLS club.Season: 4 games, 3 starts, 2 goals (US Open Cup: 2 games, 2 starts, 1 goal)